Can Chromium Help Diabetics Control Blood Sugar?

Diabetes is incredibly difficult to manage. In today’s world, it is nothing short from an epidemic, with fatal consequences. You can find plenty of fat burner and anti diabetic supplements in the market, and plenty of them contain chromium. 

This heavy metal element is gradually becoming a favorite amongst weight watchers around the world. However, is it safe to use? And does it really help with diabetes? This article will discuss the role of dietary chromium in helping diabetics control blood sugar.  

Health Benefits of Dietary Chromium for Type-2 Diabetics

Stating that chromium is actually good for health puts many people in doubt. This is because this heavy metal is often associated with toxins. It is a part of the wastage material of many industries. Hence, people have a hard time wrapping their heads around using chromium for health benefits. 

As it turns out, you can find chromium in numerous forms, out of which some are not even harmful. In fact, it is also a requirement for your body. In many foods, a safe form of this metal acts as an active and essential ingredient, through which your body absorbs this nutrient. 

Chromium deficiency is also a very probable and real condition, and can lead to hampering down the response of sugar in the blood stream. Furthermore, it can also increase a person’s risk of diabetes. Chromium is an integral part of an essential molecule in our body. This molecule helps the insulin in our blood to process macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. 

Biological Mechanism 

As a result, chromium can be beneficial for diabetic patients. What happens in diabetes is that your body produces sufficient amount of insulin. However, the body is unable to completely utilize it to its full potential. 

It is as if cells and issues develop resistance to insulin, which allows glucose to enter most cells, where the body can use it for energy. The rest of the glucose gets stored in the muscles and liver, in the form of glycogen, and when there is too much of it, the body converts it into fat.  Insulin resistance causes your blood to have higher than the optimum level of glucose. 

The deficiency of chromium reduces your body’s ability to utilize the glucose for the required energy levels. This, in turn increases the body’s resistance to insulin. Several studies show that chromium can maximize blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. 

One particular study showed that taking 200 micrograms of chromium every day for 16 weeks could result in amazing effects in blood sugar levels. It can further improve the body’s reaction to insulin. Experts also believe that people who are not sensitive to insulin and have high blood sugar levels may even response better to chromium supplementation. 

To prove this, experts reviewed 25 studies and the result showed that chromium supplements exhibited improvements in Glycemic control without adverse side effects. 

Weight Loss

Chromium can be instrumental for weight loss. Its consumption reduces cravings and suppresses hunger. Since it helps regulate blood sugar, it can help you keep away from the sudden spikes in blood sugar that induce high fat and sugar cravings. 

One particular study showed that you could greatly reduce your appetite and sugar intake if you start taking thousand grams of chromium for 8 weeks.  Experts also believe that chromium influences your brain, and wires you no longer have the urge for sugary food. 

Therefore, chromium can be incredible for people that have a binge-eating problem. Chromium can also help you reduce excess body fat and increase leaner muscle mass. 

Lipid Metabolism 

Many studies show that chromium can positively increase good cholesterol levels in the blood, and at the same time decreases bad cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol levels are both causes of serious heart conditions. 

How to Get Chromium from Your Diet?

With all the emphatic benefits of chromium, it is important that you know the foods that naturally contain the supplement. Another great thing about this nutrient is that you not need too much of it. An intake of 25 to 35 micrograms of chromium is enough for adults. 

Plant Based Sources

Children have different requirements of this nutrient.  You can get this nutrient from natural sources such as Brazil nuts. These nuts have an incredible nutrient profile, and they contain an abundant amount of this element.  

Along with chromium, they are also incredible sources of protein and fiber, which makes them a perfect snack for weight conscious crowd. Another vegetable source includes broccoli. You can get a good amount of chromium in just one cup of broccoli. 

Half a cup of broccoli holds about eleven micrograms of chromium. When you pair that with the power source of vitamin C it contains, you get a nutrient rich food that can be pivotal for weight loss.

If you are not a fan of broccoli or nuts, that is not a problem because the options are plentiful. Garlic is another option that can help you get good levels of chromium into your system. Even though it is difficult to ingest, you can add teaspoons of it into your tea or soup to make it palatable for your taste. Not only that, garlic can also boost you with energy, which you can use to burn more calories and lose weight.

Seafood Options 

If you want to move past the plant-based sources, then try resorting to mussels. If you are creating a weight loss diet, then mussels are undoubtedly one of the most nutrient dense foods that you can include. 

Along with mussel, oysters are another seafood chromium source that you can fancy to control your blood sugar levels. Oysters are also great for weight loss because of their high protein and low calories profile. 

Pear

Furthermore, you can also turn to fruits for chromium supply. Pear is one fruit that promises deliciousness, along with unique health benefits. About a hundred grams of pear holds about only 56 calories, along with only 27 micrograms of chromium. They also contain other nutrients such as magnesium, iron and calcium. 

Cautions and Risks

Like any nutrient, all come with risks and precautions. Mothers of newborn babies should always consult their doctors before taking chromium supplements. Even though the nutrient can pass onto the baby through breast milk, small amounts of it are not dangerous for the baby. 

Moreover, some medications can cause an interference with the chromium absorption. This results in the response of your body to get rid of it quickly. These medications can include antacids, protein inhibitors and H2 blockers. 

Chromium may also influence the effectiveness of insulin. Which is why, it is crucial that you consult your doctor before you take this supplement if you are a diabetic. 

Dosage and Supplements

You can attain chromium from natural sources. However, if the sources do not interest you, you can always find supplements that provide dietary chromium, which your body readily absorbs. Concerns over high dosages is yet to come across, and you there is no upper limit for this supplement. 

However, you can still find certain evidences that point towards high dosages having a negative influence on your DNA. Which is why, it is advisable to fulfill your chromium intake until more research concludes the effectiveness of its supplementary form. 

Symptoms of Chromium Deficiency 

Chromium deficient individuals have blood sugar levels that fluctuate intensely. This makes them crave sugar intensely and their body loses the ability to regulate sugar. This in turn can lead to them being over weight, or obese. What follows after obesity is fatigue, heart diseases, high cholesterol levels and a weakened immunity. 

Another thing that occurs with the blood sugar problems is neuropathy. When blood sugar levels stay elevated enough, it can actually cause nerve damage. This damage is especially evident in the hands and the feet. 

So, if you have heard of diabetic neuropathy, then long periods of chromium deficiency may be contributing to it because of blood sugar elevation. Thus, this is another symptom to look out for when diagnosing chromium deficiency. 

Should Diabetics Take Chromium?

The question then arises of whether chromium should be the right choice for you. Well, to get the best answer, it is important that you consult the doctor because they have your medical history, and know what is medically best for you. If you are nutritionally adequate with your diet, then taking chromium may not provide you with the significant results and improvements that you may be expecting. 

Conclusion 

Many people do not realize the effects and outcomes a deficiency can bring forth. Something as treatable as chromium deficiency may even be ruining people’s lives, simply because they have not yet diagnosed the problem. Chromium in some cases can be wondrous for controlling blood sugar.